‘Yote Notes – December 3, 2001
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GENERAL ATHLETICS NEWS:
MEN’S SOCCER NETS FOUR ALL-AMERICANS: For the second consecutive season, the Albertson men’s soccer squad was honored by the NAIA with four players selected as honorable mention All-Americans. Leading the way was keeper Jake Steele (Salt Lake City, Utah), who earned the national honor for the second-straight season. First-time selections included striker Coe Michaelson (Wenatchee, Wash.), midfielder Ryan Masingill (Payette), and defender Jake Carson (Boise). All four players earned All-Cascade Conference and All NAIA Region I first-team honors.
SKI TEAMS START 2002 SEASON WITH NATIONAL RANKING: The Albertson College ski programs open their season on January 12 and 13 hosting the Albertson College Invitational at Brundage Mountain. Prior to the kickoff of the 2002 season, the women’s alpine squad saw itself ranked No. 6 in the USCSA Coaches Poll, behind top-ranked Sierra Nevada College. Men’s alpine also found itself amongst the elite, ranked No. 13. Albertson, the host of the 2001 USCSA Nationals, will host the 2002 Western Region Championship at Bogus Basin, February 21-23.
BASEBALL TO START SEASON RANKED 13TH: When the Coyote baseball team hits the road for a 12-game road trip to start the 2002 season, Albertson will take a No. 13 NAIA preseason ranking with them. The ‘Yotes, who compiled a 43-18 record last season, hopes to improve on a regional runner-up finish in 2001. Region I foe Lewis-Clark State begins the season as the No. 1 team in the nation.
VOLLEYBALL EARNS TWO ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS: Seniors Carly Merkel (Boise) and Brecia Gamett (Arco) were honored by the NAIA this past weekend as Academic All-Americans. It is the second-straight year that the duo earned the honor. Merkel holds a 3.72 GPA in Biology, while Gamett holds 3.58 GPA in Biology.
C.A.A. MEETING SET FOR WEDNESDAY: The second Coyote Athletic Association meeting is set for this Wednesday, December 5, at 6 p.m. All season ticket holders and boosters are invited to attend the dinner in the Fireplace Room in the Simplot Dining Hall – across from the Activities Center. Head coaches Mark Owen and Reagan Rossi will address the crowd. Cost is $8.00 at the door. Contact the Albertson athletic department – 459-5512 to RSVP.
THIS WEEK: Host 14th Annual Duane Wolfe Memorial Golden Rule Shoot Out – vs. Lewis-Clark State, Friday, 6 p.m., vs. Westminster or So. Alberta Tech, Saturday, 6 p.m. (Loss) or 8 p.m. (win)
RESULTS FROM LAST WEEK: at Bud Presley Classic – lost to La Verne (73-67), lost to Southern Oregon (71-59)
BAY AREA STYMIES COYOTES: Things for the Albertson College men’s basketball team were moving as scheduled throughout the month of November – and then the Bay Area hit. The ‘Yotes struggled this past weekend at the Bud Presley Classic hosted by Menlo College, losing their opener to the University of La Verne, and dropping the consolation game to Southern Oregon. The two losses were the first back-to-back defeats for the men since last December, a span of 35 games.
WHAT WENT WRONG: In the Friday loss to La Verne, Albertson struggled with its effectiveness in the paint. On Saturday, it was the opposite, as the ‘Yotes shooters hit just 4-of-27 shots from the floor.
HARE EARNS ALL-TOURNAMENT HONORS: Junior transfer Eric Hare (San Miguel de Alleude, Mexico) was the only Albertson player named to the All-Tournament team. Hare scored 35 points and grabbed 18 rebounds over the weekend. For his efforts, he also earned Coyote Player-of-the-Week honors, sponsored by Perkins Family Restaurant and Bakery.
THE GOLDEN RULE NEXT: For the 14th consecutive year, Albertson plays host to the Golden Rule Shoot Out, know as the “Best small college tournament in the nation”. The ‘Yotes, along with Lewis-Clark State, Westminster, and Southern Alberta Tech make up the field. Game times on Friday and Saturday are set for 6 and 8 p.m.
STATISTICAL LEADERS: Scoring (Neal Robertson (Richland, Wash.) – 15.8 ppg), Rebounding (Eric Hare – 6.8 rpg), Field Goal Percentage (Eric Hare - .566), Three Point Percentage (Jon Thomas (Nampa) - .528), Free Throw Percentage (Tennison Tripple (Pocatello) – 1.000, 25-for-25, No. 1 in CCC), Assists (Neal Robertson – 37), Steals (Neal Robertson – 19), Blocked Shots (Mike Homik (Hamilton, N.Z.) – 12).
CASCADE CONFERENCE STANDINGS: Western Baptist (9-1), Albertson (9-3), Eastern Oregon (3-1), Oregon Tech (7-3), Warner Pacific (6-3), Cascade (6-4), Southern Oregon (4-3), Evergreen (4-4), Concordia (3-4), Northwest (3-5).
ON THE AIR: All 32 Albertson men’s basketball regular-season games will be broadcast live on KCID, 1490-AM. Mike Safford Jr. will bring the play-by-play, beginning 15 minute prior to tip-off. Listen to Albertson basketball on the “Home of the Coyotes”, 1490-KCID.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/mensbasketball.htm
THIS WEEK: at Whitman, Friday, 8 p.m. (MST), at Walla Walla, Saturday, 7 p.m. (MST)
RESULTS FROM LAST WEEK: lost to Lewis-Clark State (85-70), at Great Falls Classic – defeated Great Falls (77-72), defeated Westminster (64-57)
TOURNAMENT HAPPY: If the streak continues, we might be looking at the NAIA National Champion – well, maybe. The Lady ‘Yotes have played in three tournaments thus far during the 2001-02 season, and has finished each with a 2-0 record. Albertson won both of its games at the University of Great Falls Classic last weekend. With the Concordia-Irvine Tournament looming at the end of the month – will the streak continue?
BUT THEN THE SINGLE GAMES: On the flip-side, Albertson has yet to win a game outside of a tournament. Case in point – Tuesday’s 85-70 loss at home to No. 6 ranked Lewis-Clark State. The Coyotes held tough for the first 12 minutes, but LCSC burned the cords with ten three-pointers, en route to the victory.
BIG WEEK FOR HENRICHS: Junior guard Megan Henrichs (Preston) had a career-week for the Lady ‘Yotes, earning Albertson and Cascade Conference Player-of-the-Week honors. Henrichs recorded three straight double-doubles (17 points, 10 rebounds vs. LCSC; 11-11 vs. UGF; 19-12 vs. WC), upping her career-high in scoring twice, and her career-high in rebounds in all three games.
OTHERS STEP UP: During the week, many others stepped up at crucial points. Both Heidi Goicoechea (Burley) and Kristen Bailey (Fountain Green, Utah) had solid games at home Tuesday. Goicoechea scored 19 points, including five three-pointers, while Bailey added 14 points and five boards. Friday it was time for Jeannie Thompson (Everett, Wash.), Andra Peterson (Boise), and Jan Marchiano (Martinez, Calif.). Thompson scored a career-high 24 points in the win, with Peterson adding a season-best ten points, and Marchiano chipping in with 11 points and six rebounds. Finally on Saturday, sophomore Krystal Thacker (Elko, Nev.) stepped up to score 11 points in the win. Talk about a balanced attack!
WEST BOUND AND DOWN: The road trip that may never end continues this weekend with Games 3 and 4 in the state of Washington. The Lady ‘Yotes meet Whitman on Friday and Walla Walla College on Saturday. Albertson defeated Whitman 60-49 two Friday’s ago, and it is the first-ever meeting between ACI and WWC. The squad will play a total of eight games away from the Activities Center before returning home on January 4 against Southern Oregon.
STATISTICAL LEADERS: Scoring (Jeannie Thompson – 13.6 ppg), Rebounding (Jeannie Thompson – 10.0 rpg), Field Goal Percentage (Kristen Bailey - .509), Three-Point Percentage (Jeannie Thompson - .438), Free Throw Percentage (Heidi Goicoechea - .952, 20-for-21, No. 1 in CCC), Assists (Krystal Thacker – 22), Steals (Jeannie Thompson, Krystal Thacker – 17), Blocked Shots (Kristen Bailey – 18, No. 1 in CCC).
CONFERENCE STANDINGS: Eastern Oregon (3-1), Albertson (6-3), Southern Oregon (3-3), Concordia (4-5), Western Baptist (4-5), Northwest (2-7), Evergreen (1-8), Cascade (1-9), Warner Pacific (0-5).
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wmensbasketball.htm